Device for removing closures from bottles or jars.



No. 680,072. Patented Aug. 6, I901.

H. K. PROSSEB.

DEVICE FOR REMOVING CLOSURES FROM BOTTLES 0R JARS.

(Application filed Apr. 1, 1901 (No Model.)

I mmgmwmx? 4 E 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY K. PROSSER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

DEVICE FOR REMOVING CLOSURES FROM BOTTLES OR JARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,072, dated August6, 1901.

Application filed April 1, 1901- To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, HENRY K. PROSSER, a citizen of the United States,residing at VVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented anew and useful Device for Removing the Closures from Bottles or Jars, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for removing theclosures from hottles and jars, and is designed tobe used in connectionwith that class of closures in which a disk is employed to seal the jaror bottle, the same being forced into a retaining-groove at the mouth ofthe latter, the object of the invention being to provide simple andconvenient means for quickly prying or forcing the disk from its groove.

A further objectis to provide means for the purpose above specifiedwhich may be sold as a part of the bottle or jar without materiallyincreasing the selling price of the latter.

With the-above objects in view the invention consists in the novelfeatures of construction hereinafter fully described, particularlypointed out in the claims, and clearly illustrated by the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan View of a bottle or jarprovided with my invention, the closingdisk being removed; Fig. 2, aside elevation of the top portion of the same; Fig. 3, a longitudinalsectional view, the positions of the parts when the disk is forced fromits groove being indicated by dotted lines; Fig; 4, a transversesectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a perspective View ofthe plunger, and Fig. 6 a perspective view of the op erating member forthe plunger.

For the purpose of sealing jars or bottles a disk of pasteboard or otheryielding materialhas been provided, which disk is forced into aretaining-groove formed at the mouth of the jar or bottle, and thisconstruction of closure, owing to its simplicity and cheapness, hasbecome extensively used, especially in connection with milk jars orbottles. WVhile this disk may be readily positioned to seal the jar orbottle, yet considerable difficulty is experienced in removing the same,it being necessary to pry it from its groove by means of a fork orsimilar handy implement. This consumes quite a little time and isattended Serial No. 53,844. (No model.)

with a great deal of difficulty and inconvenience and also expense tothe owner of the viate the trouble now experienced in removing theseflexible disks, I have produced the present invention, which is designedto form a part ofthe jar or bottle and be sold therewith and which canbe quickly and conveniently operated to instantly unseat theclosing-disk.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, Adesignates a jar or bot-tle having at its mouth the usual rim or annularenlargement B. Formed upon the inner side of the mouth of the jar orbottle is an annular groove C to receive a disk D, of pasteboard orsimilar material. The bottom wall of this groove constitutes a seatagainst which the disk rests flatly when in position, while the otherwall of the groove is inclined and acts as a retaining-wall to preventthe removal of the disk, excepting when considerable pressure is appliedto the latter.

In carrying out my invention I form upon the inner side of the mouth ofthe jar or bottle an enlargement E, which is formed with alongitudinally-extending recess to receive the stem F of alongitudinally-movable plun= ger, and having at its outer end adepression forming a seat for the head G of said plunger. The outer endof said enlargement is flush with the seat of groove C, as is also theouter surface of the head G of the plunger when the latter is in itsnormal position, so that no obstruction is ofiered to the seating of thedisk D. At its inner end the longitudinal recess of the enlargement isformed with a lateral enlargement H to receive a projection I on thestem F of the plunger. This projectionprevents the displacement of theplunger, but does not interfere with a limited movement of the sameoutwardly, as said lateral recess II is formed considerably greater inextent than the projection. In positioning the plunger in theenlargement- E, which constitutes a box therefor, it is turned with itshead G transversely of the longitudinal recess and its stem movedinwardly in said recess until the lateral recess H is reached, when theplunger is turned to bring said projection into the lateral recess andits head G in position to fit into the depression which constitutes itsseat.

Formed in the rim or enlargement B of the jar or bottle is alongitudinally-extending perforation in which the stem J of an operating member is positioned, so as to be rocked therein, said stem being bentat right angles at its inner end to form a lifting-arm K, which when theoperating member is rocked in one direction swings beneath the inner endof the stem F of the plunger, a suitableopening L being formed in theside of the neck of the bottle or jar, which opening extends through andcommunicates with the'inner end of the longitudinal recess of theenlargement E.

Stem J of the operating member is screwthreaded at its outer end toreceive a handle M, which is disposed at right angles thereto andoppositely to arm K.

The arm M when the operating member is in its normal position is swunginto a suitable recess formed in the outer side of the enlargement orrim B, which recess is enlarged to form a finger-nick N on the underside of the handle, whereby the latter may be conveniently engaged bythe finger of the user and swung outwardly to swing the arm K inwardlybeneath the stem of the plunger. When the said operating member is movedto bring the lifting-arm beneath the stem of the plunger, said membermay be moved outwardly, a suitable opening 0 being formed in the rim Bto permit said outward movement. This outward movement of the operatingmember effects the outward movement of the plunger, causing the head ofthe same to force the disk D from its groove, as illustrated by dottedlines in Fig. 3.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided averysimple construction for conveniently and quickly removing theclosing-disk of a jar or bottle from its seat.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A jar or bottle having aclosure-removing member movable in the wall of the neck thereof, andmeans for operating said member from the exterior of the bottle or jar,substantially as described.

2. A jar or bottle having a longitudinallymovable plunger arrangedadjacent to its mouth, and a rocking member movable longitudinally andoperable from the exterior of the jar or bottle and provided with aliftingarm to engage the plunger, substantially as described.

3. A bottle or jar having a longitudinallymovable member near its mouth,a longitudinally-movable and pivotally-mounted operating member havingan arm adapted to engage the inner end of. the member and provided witha handle, substantially as described.

4. Thecombination in a jar or bottle having an outwardly-movableclosing-disk, of an outwardly-movable plunger arranged adjacent to themouth of the bottle or jar and adapted to engage the under side of thedisk and unseat the same when moved outwardly, and an operating memberfor effecting the outward movement of said plunger, substantially asdescribed.

5. A bottle or jar having a boxing formed upon the inner side of themouth thereof, an outwardly-movable member positioned in said boxing, aswinging member mounted upon the exterior of said mouth and movableoutwardly, a lifting-arm formed upon the inner end of said member andadapted to be swung beneath the inner end of the member, and a handlecarried by said member and disposed oppositely to the arm, substantiallyas described.

6. A jar or bottlehaving an outwardly-movable closure-removing membermounted in the wall of the neck thereof, and a member for operating saidfirst-mentioned member from the exterior of the bottle or jar,substantially as described.

' 7. A jar or bottle having a closure-removing member mounted to slidein the wall of the neck thereof, and means for operating said memberfrom the exterior of the bottle or jar, substantially as described.

8. A jar or bottle having a closure-removin'g member carried by the neckthereof, and means for operatingsaid member from the exterior of the jaror bottle, substantially as described.

HENRY K. PROSSER.

